Venetian blind



June 3 143. WREAD 2,244,094

VENE'IIAN BLIND Filed April 22, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIE M A TTORNEY;

W. E. WREAD VENETIAN BLIND June 3, 1941.,

Filed April 22, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illllllllll J H N a 4, A TTORNE K-June 3 1%. W. E. WREAD 2,2fi94 VENETIAN BLIND Filed April 22, 1939 5Sheets-Sheet 4 W/u/AM f. M540, INVENTOR;

44., .4 TTORNE I;

June 3, 1941. w. E. WREAD 2,244,094

VENETIAN BLEIIND Filed April 22, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Hummi- MAL/AM fM9540, INVENTOR,

454.14 TTORNEY.

Patenred June 3, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENETIAN BLIND WilliamE. Wread, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 22, 1939, Serial No. 269,429

8 Claims.

My invention relates to Venetian blinds and the various operating partsfor raising, lowering and tilting the blinds, and the combination ofparts in connection therewith.

An object of my invention is to provide a new and novel method ofmanufacturing and assembling a Venetian blind whereby the slat is notperforated to receive the elevating cord heretofore customarily employedin the raising and lowering of the blind and which cord has been mountedso as to pass through a slot or hole formed in the center of theVenetian blind slat.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel Venetian blind wherebythe slats may be adjusted relative to each other to form a closuremember whereby substantially all light is prevented from passing throughthe same when moved to fully closed position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel Venetian blindwhereby the same may be raised or lowered in an even manner, that is tosay, whereby the possibility of one end of the blind being raised higherthan the other end of the blind, is eliminated.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel Venetian blindwhereby when the same is raised to its open position, the means forraising the same will be hidden from view, thereby eliminating theunsightly surplus of cord heretofore present when Venetian blinds aremoved to their raised position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel Venetian blindin'which the spacer tape that holds the slats in spaced position will befolded out of sight, thereby presenting a neat appearance of the blindwhen in folded position and thereby reducing to a minimum, thepossibility of such spacer tape collecting dust and the like.

A stillfurther object of my invention is to provide a novel Venetianblind whereby the same may be constructed at a minimum of labor andfittings.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a novel Venetianblind which may be mounted so as to provide a blind of materiallygreater strength without substantially increasing the weight thereof andwhich will be raised and lowered in a substantially true horizontalposition without tilting at one end or the other and whereby repair orreplacements are reduced to a minimum.

My invention includes the various parts and combination of partshereinafter more specifically pointed out and defined in the claims.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from theaccompanying drawings, the subjoined detail description, and theappended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in some of the formsI at present deem preferable.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view, partly in section, showing aVenetian blind constructed in accordance with my invention and showingthe blind partially raised. Parts are broken away to contract the view,both horizontally and vertically; and the view shows my Venetian blindassociated with a window, the frame of which is shown in plan.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my new and novel spacer tape clamp andhoisting tape guide for spacing the blind slats and raising the Venetianblind.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3, Fig. 6, showing inconnection therewith, a fragmental portion of the Venetian blind slat.

Fig. 4 Ba longitudinal, sectional view taken on line 4-'4, Fig. 1; partsbeing brokeen away to contract the view.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal, sectional view taken on line 55,Fig. 1; parts being broken away to contract the view.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary, sectional view taken on irregularlines 66, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 'l'l of r Fig. 6, and showingthe tilting bar in position with the Venetian blind flap in maximum openposition.

Fig. 8 is a view analogous to Fig. 7, and as taken on line 1-1, Fig. 6,but showing the tilting bar in adjusted position so as to tilt the slatsto prevent light rays penetrating the enclosure.

Fig. 9 is a view analogous to Fig. 1, but showing a modified form of myinvention.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a still furthermodified form of my invention.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a spacer tape clamp and-hoisting tapeguide member for the various slats of the Venetian blind, and is amodification of the construction shown in Fig. 2, and is shownassociated with the construction shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line I 2-42, Fig. 13, and showing aPortion of the Venetian blind slat, portions being broken away tocontract the view.

Fig. 13 is a view analogous to Fig. 5 and taken on line l3-|3, Fig. 9,but showing my novel spacer tape clamp and guiding means as shown Fig.14 is a view analogous to Fig. 8, but show- I ing the Venetian blindslats in position to effectively close the light area so as to preventlight rays from passing therethrough, and illustrating the form ofconstruction shown in Figs. 9, 11, 12 and 13.

My invention comprises a Venetian blind that is mounted at the header Iof an opening 2 such as a window, or the like, and is adapted to beelevated or hoisted whereas to substantially unobstruct the opening, andlowered and then tilted to adjustably close the opening to varyingdegrees to determine and control the amount of light permitted topermeate the opening which as shown in Fig. 1 comprises a header 3, theusual rails l and a sill 5. A valance 6 is secured to the header to hidethe operating mechanism from view.

A supporting member in the shape of an angle iron 1 is secured to theheader 3 on opposite ends thereof and to the lower end of which atilting bar 8 is pivotally connected and also to which member 1 a rod 9is pivotally connected in spaced relation to the tilting bar 8, andpreferably above the same. The rod 9 is constructed in a manneranalogous to window shade rolls, that is to say, the same is providedwith the usual internal spring a (Fig. 6) and the usual catch mechanism17 (Fig. 6), the same are well known in the art and are not furtherdescribed herein for the sake of brevity. Secured to the rod or roller 3by means such as tacks 2! is a hoisting or elevating tape ill and whichtape I is secured at its other end to a bar H by tacks c.

Secured to the tilting bar 8 is a spacer tape: 52, which is preferablymounted inside of the ho isting tape ill.

The invention disclosed in Figs, 1-6 with respect to the combined spacertape clasp or clamp and hoisting tape clasp or clamp comprises a sheetmetal clamp i3, bent and formed as more particularly shown in Fig. 2,whereby such spacer tape clasp and hoisting tape guide comprises aU-shaped member Hi, the base E of which is provided with a guide memberl6, that is struck outwardly from the base l5 and provides a recess I!in which the hoisting tape I0 may freely reciprocate. The free ends ofthe U-shaped tape clamp and hoisting tape guide are providedintermediate its ends with a recess i8 that is adapted to receive thespacing tape l2; and the free ends of the arms of such U-shaped guidemember i3 are provided at its extremities with tang members I9 that aredirected toward each other and which are adapted to be embedded in theVenetian blind slat so as to secure the clamp members thereto.

Inassembly of my invention and as shown in Figs. 1-6, the spacer tape issecured to the slats 20 at predetermined intervals by threading thespacer tape through the recess l8 and then forcing the clamp inwardlyover the slat 20 as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 and then closing the leg orarm members of the clamp I3 on to the slat so that the tangs l9 willpenetrate the same and thereby securely hold the clamp to the slat 20and pinch the tape about the slat to prevent shifting of the slatrelative to its connection with the clamp. By securing clamp member l3to the slat 20 about the spacing tape I2 at predetermined intervals, theslat 20 will be spaced apart one from the other at the desired distanceand by thus securing the spacer tape 52 to the slat 20, stitching orweaving operations of securing the spacer tape to the hoisting tape asheretofore used will be eliminated.

The hoisting tape i0 is loosely threaded through the recess l1 and atits lower end is secured by the tacks c to the bar I l which is'supported underneath the lowermost slat' of the Venetianblind and saidhoisting tape is secured to therdller 9 by any suitable means as thetacks 2| asshown' in Fig. 6'. I

When it is desired to raiseor lower the blind, the person will grasp thebar II or a cord (not shown) which may suspend therefrom as analogous towindow shades and operate the roller 9 in the usual manner by giving aslight downward pull to release the catch means I) and then the spring awill wind the hoisting tape around the roller as shown in Figs. 4-6 andduring such operation the spacer tape l2 will be folded inwardly as bestshown in Fig. 5 so that the appearance. to the eye will result in a viewas shown in Fig. 1; that is, with merely the hoisting tape presenting asmooth appearance and the spacing tape being folded inwardly instead ofoutwardly as heretofore. This folding of the spacing tape inwardlybetween the slats, will form a cushioning means for the slats as theyare raised, thereby preventing noise and also by being folded inwardly,will not tend to collect dust, thereby presenting a neat appearance whenfolded, and providing for maximum sanitation.

Tilting means 22 are provided whereby the operator may tilt the shadeslats to any desired degree and such means are best shown in Figs 5-8,and comprises a U-shaped metal clamp member 23 that embraces and issecured to tilting bar 8 and has ears or lugs 24 struck outwardly andupwardly from one leg member thereof and to which an operating lever 25having ears 26 is pivotally connected to said lugs 25 by a pivot 2i.

The operating lever 25 has on one end an upstanding arm 28 that isprovided with an outwardly projecting pin 29 that is adapted to bereceived in and withdrawn from recesses 30 formed in the supportingmember I. These recesses 30 may be of any predetermined number and arearcuatelyspaced about the pivotal point 3| of the bar 8 with thesupporting member E.

The operating lever 25 is provided on its other end and opposite thepivot 21 and arm 28 with an arm 25' with which an operating cable 32cooperates. Resilient means in the form of a spring 32 is interposedbetween the bar 8 and the under side of the arm 25' and tends to holdthe projection 23 in a selected recess 30..

Staples or eyes 33 are secured to opposite sides of the bar 8 and thecable 32 is threaded through the staples or eyes 33 and an opening 35 inthe arm 25, and preferably such portion 34 of cable 32' that extendsthrough the eyes 33 and opening in order to eliminate wear is a wirecable, and is provided with knots 36 that are positioned just underneaththe eyes 33, the cable 32' is preferably U-shaped. althoughthe same neednot be closed at its lower end and in order to tilt the bar 8 theoperator will grasp one side of the cable 32' and pull downwardlythereon and one knot 36 (depending on which side of the cable 32' ispulled downwardly) will engage underneath a staple or eye 33 andcontinual pulling will depress the arm 25' and withdraw the projection29 from a recess 30 and by balancing the pull on opposite strands of thecable 32, the operator may tilt the flap 20 to the desired angle andupon release of the tension on cable 32, the

spring means 32 will urge the projection 29 into a recess 30 and therebywill lock the slats at an angle to which the bar 8 has been tilted.

It will be noted that from the foregoing construction it is notnecessary to weaken the slats 20 by providing a hole therein throughwhich the elevating cord has heretofore passed, and further, that thetape clamp i3 when secured to the slat will prevent lengthwise shiftingof the slat and will also guide the hoisting tape in a true verticalposition.

By eliminating the slot in the slat and through which the elevating cordhas heretofore been required to pass and by which the blind was raisedand lowered l materially strengthen the blind slats by the eliminationof such slot, and also eliminate breakage of the slats occasioned byforming the slot in the slat; as well as eliminate replacement of theelevating cord occasioned by such cord wearing out dueto frictional en-,gagement of it with the edges of the slot.

It will be further noted that the elevating cord heretofore used inraising and lowering the blind is approximately one-fourth inch indiameter and by virtue of its passing through the slats necessarilycontacts the edges of the slats when the same are moved to maximumtilted position, and such cord will prevent the slats from being tiltedto a fully closed position sufficiently tight to prevent all light frompassing through the blind; and my thin sheet metal clamp secured to theslat, I materially increase the efficiency of the blind in preventinglight rays passing therethrough when the blind is tilted to maximumclosed position.

It will also be noted that by the foregoing construction I haveeliminated the objection of the hoisting cord passing through the slatsas well as to materially increase the effectiveness of the blind whentilted to maximum closed position; and has further increased theeihciency of the blind by using my construction over that of thehoisting cord that heretofore passed through the center of the slatsbecause in the event such hoisting cord and which was separatelyattached to each end of the hoisting bar) was not evenly pulled, oneside of the blind would raise faster than the other, thereby causing theblind to tip or tilt and the slats to become uneven, and when the blindwas raised to open position, a considerable surplus of hoisting cordwould be present in the room and which was unsightly and many times anuisance or bother. However, with my novel' construction, the blind israised evenly from each end thereof in a substantial true horizontalposition and when moved to raised position the surplus hoisting cord ortape caused by elevating the blind will be entirely concealed behind thevalance 6.

A distinct advantage gained by my novel construction in addition tosaving labor in cutting the slots or holes in the slats is that threepieces of hardware or pulleys heretofore used to guidethe hoisting cordwhen raising and lowering the blind will be eliminated.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 9, 11-13, I have provided adifferent style of a spacer tape clamp and hoisting tape guide member 38for the various slats whereby I am able to increase the efficiency ofthe blind relative to the amount of light rays that are permitted topass through the blind when the same is tilted to a maximum closedposition.

In respects other than the clamp 38, the construction shown in thesefigures and the operation thereof is the same as that disclosed in Figs.l-8 and like parts in Figs. 11-14 will be given like referencecharacters and further description or reference thereto is herebyeliminated for the sake of brevity and the specification will beconfined to the clamp member 38 and its operation.

The spacer tape clamp and hoisting tape guide member 38 comprises asheet metal clamp bent to form a U-shaped member 39, analogous to themember it and which is provided at the free ends of the arms forming theU-shaped member 39, with tang members I 9'. The base 40 of the U-shapedclamp member 39 is provided with journal members M extending therefromand to which member M is pivotally connected, a spacing tape clamp andhoisting tape guide 52. Such guide 42 is constructed of a narrow sheetmetal member bent upon itself as at 53 to provide a recess 44 thatreceives the spacing tape 45 and when the recess 46 is clamped upon thespacing tape 45 the tape is securely held in fixed relation thereto byfrictional engagement between the ends 83 andin the recesses M; themember 3a is provided with an outwardly protruding portion 46. whichprovides a space or recess between the spacing tape and such projectionsand in which the hoisting tape 41 may freely reciprocate and be guided.The free ends of the member 62 are bent outwardly as at 4B and theninwardly to form a pivotal connection 49 that enters a recess 50 toprovide a pivotal connection with the U- shaped member 39.

It willbe noted, particularly in Fig. 14 that when the blind is tiltedto its maximum closed position as shown in Fig. 14 that the spacer tapeclamp and hoisting tape guide fixture, as best shown in Fig. 11, willpivot about the pivotal connection #39, thereby permitting the slats 2%to be tilted so that the same overlap in close proximity to each other;the only spacing therebetween. being the thin thickness of the metalforming the U-shaped clamp 39. This enables me to obtain a substantiallylight-proof blind when tilted to fully closed position.

The modified construction shown in Fig. 10 is, except for the relationof the hoisting tape and spacing tape relative to the slat, the same ashereinbefore described and for the sake of brevity, I will describe onlythe analogy of the hoisting tape, spacing tape and slats relativethereto.

In the construction shown in Fig. 10, the spacing tape 5! has asupporting tape 52 connected thereto by weaving or stitching or othersuitable securing means at its ends and upon which the slats 20 rest. Inorder to prevent the slats 20 from shifting lengthwise of the supportingtape 52, I provide a U-shaped staple 53 which straddles the narrowsupporting tape 52 and is embedded in the slats 20, preferably at themid-portion thereof.

This construction as shown in Fig. 10 elimihates the clamp members shownin Figs. 2 and 11 and enables me to accomplish all of the foregoingadvantages and features and the further elimination of additionalmembers such as the clamp and guide members shown in Figs. 2 and 11; andalso provides for closing the blind in as an effective closed positionas is possible to attain.

I claim: a

1. A Venetian blind comprising in combination, a tilting bar, a spacingtape secured to said tilting bar; slats connected to said spacing tape;a spring operated roller supported above said tilting bar, a hoistingtape connected to and adapted to be wound upon said roller, saidhoisting tape when wound upon said roller being connected to raise saidslats; said hoisting tape being positioned outside of said spacing tape,and said spacing tape folding inwardly between adjacent slats when saidslats are hoisted.

2. A clam-p member for Venetian blinds comprising a U-shaped memberprovided with tangs at its free ends to be inserted into Venetian blindslats, said U-shaped member being provided with a recess intermediatethe edges of each arm; and the base of said U-shaped clamp member beingprotruded to form a recess to receive a hoisting tape. i

3. In a Venetian blind including a plurality of slats; a spacing member;clamp means to secure said slats to said member at spaced intervalstherealong; means to raise and lower said slats including a hoistingmember positioned exteriorly of said spacing member; and meanspivotallyconnected to said clamp means through which said hoisting member isfreely slidable.

4. In a Venetian blind supporting means; a tilting bar pivotallyconnected to said supporting means; a flexible spacing member connectedto said bar; a plurality of slats; a clamp member connected to saidslats; a securing member pivotally connected to said clamp member andcomprising portions adapted to be clamped upon said spacing member; aflexible member to raise and lower said slats; and said securing memberbeing provided with a struck-up portion through which said flexiblemember for raising and lowering the slats is adapted to freely pass.

5. A clamp for Venetian blinds comprising a U- shaped clamp memberadapted to embrace the edges of Ventian blind slats and provided at itsfree ends with tangs adapted to be depressed into said slats; the baseof said U-shaped clamp member being provided with outwardly extendingears; each of which are provided with a recess; and a spacing tapesecuring member bent upon itself. to form recesses in which a spacingtape member is clamped and having its free ends forming projections tobe received in the recesses in said lugs and pivotally connect saidsecuring member to said clamp member.

6. A clamp for Venetian blinds comprising a u-shaped clamp memberadapted to embrace the edges of Venetian blind slats and provided at itsfree ends with tangs adapted to be depressed into said slats; the baseof said U-shaped clamp member being providedwith outwardly extendingears, each of which are provided with a recess; and a spacing tapesecuring member bent upon itself to form recesses in which a spacingtape member is clamped and having its free ends forming projections tobe received in the recesses in said lugs and pivotally connect saidsecuring member to said clamp member, and said securing member beingprovided at its base with an outwardly projected portion to provide arecess between a spacing tape clamped in the ends of said securingmember and said outwardly projected portion and in which a hoisting tapemay freely pass.

7. In a Venetian blind; supporting members secured to a header and oneof which is divided with a plurality of recesses; a tilting barpivotally connected to said supporting members; means to tilt said barto predetermined angular positions, said means including an armpivotally connected to said tilting bar and having at one end oi saidarm a projection adapted to be received in said recesses; said arm alsobeing provided at its opposite end with a lever through which anoperating member is adapted to pass; and resilient means adapted tonormally force said projection into said recesses, and means connectedto said operating member to operate the same.

8. In a Venetian blind as set forth in claim 7, and in which the meansto operate said operating member includes eyes connected to oppositesides of said tilting bar, and an operating cord extending through saideyes and a recess in the operating arm and having a knot adjacent theunderside of said eyes and then extending downwardly, so that whenpulled a. knot will engage an eye and depress said lever to withdraw theprojection from its associated recess.

WILLIAM E. WREAD.

